Gun-mount.



. Patented sept. 5, |899. P. BURGER.

G U N M 0 U N T {Applicaton filed Mar. 16, 1899.

(No Model.)

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cua-MOUNT.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 632,634, dated September 5, 1899. Application filed March 16, 1899. Serial No. 709,331. (No model.)

To a'l whom, it mrm/ con/cern:

Be it known that l, PAUL BURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, inthe State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun- Mounts; and I d`o hereby declare the follow.

ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

My invention relates to `improvements in gun-mounts of the disappearing system; and it consists of certain novel features and of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same'parts are indicated by the saine letters throughout the several views.

Figure lis a side elevation of the gun-mount and the gun in the firing position,partsbeing broken away and the gun-platform being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the gun after it hasbeen fired and in the lowered position, inwhich position the gun is loaded and sighted. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, partly in section, along the line 3 3 and looking from the muzzle of the gun. Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section along the line 4 t of Fig. l, looking to the right Fig. 5 represents asection along the line 5 5 of Fig. l and looking down, and Fig. G represents an elevation of the saddle detached from the mount.

A represents the gun, which is provided with the trunnion-band A', having the trunnions a', and with the rear band A2, with lugs g2 for the elevating-gear. These trunnions a' are mounted in suitable bearings b' in the upper end of the gunlevers B and are held in place by cap-sqnarcs B'. These gung-levers 13 are perforated, as at b, to receive the upper trunnions e of the saddle E, which saddle is also provided with the lower trunnions e', mounted in the bearing-blocks j" above the side brackets F of the gun-mount. Thus it will be seen that the gun-levers are pivoted on the upper end of the saddle E, while the saddle is pivoted on the tivo side brackets of lthe gun-carriage. The lower or forward end of the gun-levers is perforated, as at D?, to receive the bar C, supporting the ears'd, by which the.counterpoiseweight D is suspended. This counterpoise-,weight is preferably made in the form of a hollow cylindrical casting filled with lead D".

On one or both sides of the weight l provide guide-ribs d', traveling in suitable guideways in the gun-mount, and one or both of these ribs is provided with ratchet-teeth d2 to engage the pawl di when the weight is in the raised and the gun in the lowered position. This pawl d3 is normally pressed inward toward the weight by means of the spring-op erated lever D3, and the pawl may be withdrawn by simpiypressing inwardon the said lever against the action of the said spring.

The weight of the eounterpoise-weight D should be somewhat in excessA of that required to bring the gun back to the raised position. A

The gun-carriage is preferably supported by a ring G, resting on cone-rollers g, which in turn are supported by the circular track` H on the gun-platform Il. This platform is provided with a circular well H0 to allow the weight D to descend into said well as the gun is raised, irrespective of `the angle of train. Moreover, the side brackets F preferably project down into said well, and thus enable a deeper beam to be used without at the same time correspondingly increasing the height of the gun above the gun-platform.

The saddle E has projecting from the upper trunnion e the lugs e2, which engage in the elongated slots 7c in the vribs K', which project upward from the recoil-cylinder K. The said recoil-cylinder has a pair ot downwardprojecting ribs twhich engage on either side of the rail F3, which rail is secured to the frontand rear brackets F and F2, respectively. Above this rail F3 and secured to the sockets f4j5 is the piston-rod L of the recoilcylinder, which piston-rod is thus made rigid.

with the gunc'arriage. The said piston-rod, it will be noted, extends through the recoilcylinder, and the weight Aof the latter is taken by the rail F3. The recoil-cylinders K, with their pistons, stuing-boxes, 85e., are pref- IOO erably"const rueted in the ordinary way and will not be further described.

al i 632,634

M M are two buffers on which the part b of the gun-levers B strike when the gun recoils, as will be seen by Fig. 2.

The elevating-arms N are pivoted at their upper ends to the trunnions a2 and at their lower ends are jonrnaled on the armsp ofthe cross-piece P, which has the two nuts p'made integral therewith. The arms p travel in vertical guidewaysf2 in the carri-agees shown in Fig. 5. The elevatingarms N are spaced apart and strengthened by the tie-rod and sleeveN'. The double screws Q are journaled at their lower ends in the socket-plate 413t,j .xui "naled on the trnnnion fr in the-brackets F, and their upper ends are journaled in the socket-plate R', which is trunnioned, as at r', in the rail-pieces F3, and thus these two screws Q are free to rotate between the said socketplates R R1. These screws Q engage the nuts V2o p' and are rotated by the handoperated mechanism, as will now be described. The socket-plates R R are shown as trunnioned in the rail-pieces for convenience ,of manufacture; but these plates may be rigidly at tached to the rail-pieces or secured therein in any convenient way. Each screw Q carries near its head a worm-wheelQ', engaging a worm S on the shaft S, journaled transversely of the carriage, which shaft carries a 3o gear-wheel S2, meshing in thepinion T2, carlss ried by the shaft T, which is driven by the hand-wheel T. It will be evident froxn-inspecting Fig. 4 that a motion of the handwheel in one direction will cause the screws Q to revolve, so as to elevate the muzzle of the gun, while a motion in the reverse direction will depress the muzzle of the gun.

While I prefer double screws Q, with corresponding parts for operating the-same, it will be evident that a single screw may be substitilted for the double screws, if desired, in

'which case only one vworin-wheel and one worm would be required. The double construction, as shown in Fig. 4, insures, however, greater strength and rigidity and would ordinarily be preferable.

The operation of the device is as follows: The gun, being in the position shown in Fig. 1is fired. The recoilcauses the gun to swing downward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l or infull lines in Fig. 2. At the same .time-the gun-levers draw up the weight D, and the spring-pawl ds catches in the teeth d2, supporting the-weight D and allowing the weight of the gun to keep the parts in the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1. While. in this'position the gun is loaded and sighted, and when it is desired Ato return the gun to the firing position the pawl d3 is with- 6o drawn, and the weight D, pulling down on the lower end of the gun-levers, returns the gun to the initial position, (shown in Fig. 1,) when the cycle of operations may be repeated, and so on. l

It `will be noted that, nearly the entire weight of the gun and of the gun-levers andal'so of the counterpoise D is thrown upon the saddie, and this is supported upon` the heavyside brackets F, near the'base of the carriage,

vand hence the center of the system is broughtv low down near the gun-platform. Moreover, it will be noted that little or no downward pressure is brought upon the upper Ipart of the carriage, and hence great lightness and comparativelysmall cost are secured in building the upper parts of the carriage. It will be seen that there is little or no'vertical pressure upon the recoil-cylinders oi-.their connected parts, the said cylinders being supported by and'sliding along the horizontal rails F3.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein-described apparatus and in the several parts thereof which could be used without departing from the spirit lor my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secu-re-byLetters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In-a disappearing-gun inount, the coin-4 bination with asaddle pivoted on the carriage,

oted near one end of said gun-levers'andaI counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other".

end ofsaid gun1evers, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gunlevers, and adj nstable supports for the breech of the gun, substantially as described.

. 3. In a disappearing-gun mountthe'com bination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-leversv pivoted on said saddle, avgun pivoted` near one end of said gun-levers and' a lcounterpoisefweight pivoted near the other end of said' gnn-leverspiston.rods for the re-4 coil-cyli ndern sec ured; to', said carriage, recoil*- cylinders .mounted over said piston-rods and engaging 'said' saddle near the pivots of' 'the gu-nflevers,and adjustable supports for the `breech of the gun, substantiallyl as described.

4l Ina disappearinggun mount, the cornbinationwth'assddle'pivdted on thearrage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near-'one end of' saidv gun-levers and 'a counterpoise-weight pivot-ed near the other end of said'l gun-levers, a ratchet-and-,rxiawl4 detent for`holding said weight in the raised position and for releasing the samewhen d'esijred, and means for supporting the breech,

of the gun,` substantially'as described.

5,; In a disappearing-gun mount', the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage,

gun-levers pivoted on, said. saddle, a gun pivoted near one end 'of said gun-levers'and' a,

rio

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counterpoise-'weight pivoted near?" the other end of said gun-levers, a ratchet-and-paivl' detent for holding said weight in the raised position and for releasing the saine when desired, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gun-levers, and adjustable supports for .the breech of the gun, substantially as described.

G. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with asaddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, piston-rods for the recoil-cylinders secured on said carriage, a ratchet-and-pawl detent for holding said Weight in the raised position and for releasing the same when desired, recoil-cylinders mount-ed over said piston-rods and supported by the gun-carriage and engaging said saddle near the pivots of the gun-levers, and adjustable supports for the breech of the gun, substantially as described.

7. In a disappearing-gun mount, the conibination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-Weight suspended from the other end of said gun-levers, with elevating-arms for supporting the breech of the gun, and elevating-gear forraising and lowering said arms, substantially as described.

8. In a disappearing-gun mount,the coinbination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gun-levers,elevating-arms pivoted to and su pporting the breech of the gun, andelevatinggear for raising and lowering-said arms, substantially as described.

9. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle,a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers anda counterpoise-Weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, piston-rods for the recoil-cylinders secured to said carriage, recoilcylinders mounted over said piston-rods and supported by the gun-carriage and engaging said saddle nearthe pivots of the gun-levers, elevating-arms pivoted to and supporting the breech ot' the gun, and elevating-gear for raising and lowering said arms, substantially as described.

10. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage,

gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, elevating-arms for supporting the breech of the gun, and hand-op erated mechanism for elevating said arms, substantially as described.

11-. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage,

gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoisc-weight pivoted near the other end of said gu n-leyers, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gunlevei-S, ele\\'ating arms pivoted to the breech of the gun, and worm-gearing for elevating said arms, substantially as described.

1;?. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with asaddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on saidsaddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, piston-rods for the recoil-cylinders secured to said carriage, recoilcylinders mounted over said piston-rods and engaging said saddle near the pivots of the gun-levers, elevating-arms pivoted to the breech of the gun, and hand-operated mechanism for elevating said arms, substantially as described.

13. In a disappearing-gun mount, thecombination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, elevating-arms for supporting the breech of the gun, a cross-piece with nuts secured to said arms, screws journaled in the gun-carriage and engaging said nuts, and means for turning said screws, substantially as described.

14. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted' near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gun-levers,ele\atin g-arm'sforsu pportin g the breech of the gun, a cross-piece with nuts secured to said arms, screws journaled inthe guncarriage and engaging said nuts, and means for turning said screws, substantially as described.

15. In a disappearing-gun mount the conibination with, a saddle pivoted on the carriage,

gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun piv! oted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, piston-rods for the recoil-cylinders secured to said carriage, recoilcylinders mounted over said piston-rods and engaging said saddle near the pivots of the gun-levers, elevating-arms for supporting the breech of the gun, a cross-piece with nuts secured to said arms, screws jour'naled in the gun-carriage and engaging said nuts, and

means for turning said Screws, substantially v as described.

16. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivotedon the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near theother end of said gun-levers, elevating-arms pivoted to the breech of the gun, a cross-piece with IIO nuts secured to the lower end of said arms, screwsjournaled in the gun-carriage and engaging said nuts, and hand-operated wormgearing for simultaneously turning said screws, substantially as described.

17. In adisappearing-gun mount, the cornbination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, recoibcyliuders engaging'V said saddle near the pivots of said gun-leve'rs, elevating-arms pivoted to the breech of the gun, a cross-piece with nuts secured to the lower end of said arms, screws jonrnaled in' the. gun-carriage and engaging said nuts, and

hand-operated worm-gearing for simultaneously turning said screws, substantially as de- 18. In a disappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage,

. gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun piv- .sys

oted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers, piston-rods for the recoil-cylinders secured to said carriage, recoilcylinders mounted over said piston-rods and engaging said saddle near 'the pivots of the 'l gun-levers, elevatingarms pivoted to the .breech of the gun, across-piece with nuts secured to the lower en d of said arms, screws Journaled 1n the gun-carriage and engaging said nuts, and hand-operated worm-gearing for simultaneously turning said screws, sub-r Istantiallyas described.

19. In a disappearing-gun mount, the coinbination withasaddle pivoted on the carri, Ue, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counte-rpoiseiweight pivoted near the other A end of said gun-levers, comprising a hollow cylindrical castinglcontaining a Weight,recoil cylinders engaging said saddle near pivots of vgun-levers, vand adj ustable supports for the breech of the gun, substantially as described;

20. In adisappearing-gun mount, the combination with a saddle pivoted on the carriage,

gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end ofsaid'gun-levers, a coun- :terpeise-weight pivoted near the other lend of said`gun-levers and comprisinga hollow cylindrical casting containin-g'a weight, with vertical guide-ribs on said'lioilowcylindri'cal casting, recoil-cylinders engaging-said saddle near the pivots of said gun-levers, Yand adjust- -able supports for the breech of the gun, sub

`stantially as described p 21. In a disappearinggun mount, the combination withside brackets, a saddle pvoted on said side brackets, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle,- a gun pivoted near one end of said levers,l a counterpoise-weight pivoted ',lnear the other end of said gun-levers, comprising ahollow cylindrical casting containa weight, with'ver'tical guide-ribs on7 said .1

hollow cylindrical casting engaging in verti cal guideway-grooves near the front ends of the side brackets, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gun-levers, and adjustable supports for the breech of the gun, substantially as described.

22. In a disappearing-gun mount, the cornbinaton with side brackets, a saddle pivoted on said side brackets, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gun-levers,

said hollow cylindrical casting engaging in verticalguideway-grooves near the front ends of the side brackets, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of said gun-levers, elevating-arms pivoted to and supporting the breech of the gun, and elevating-gear for raising and lowering said arms, substantially as described.

bination with side brackets, a saddle pivoted 'on said side brackets, gun-levers pivoted on said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near'the other end of said gun-levers, comprising a hollow cylindrical casting containing a weight, vertical guide-.ribs on said hollow cylindrical casting engaging in vertical guidewaygrooves near front ends of said sideV brackets, recoil-cylinders engaging said saddle near the pivots of the gun-levers, elevating-arms pivoted to the breech of the gun,

screws journaled in the gun-carriage and en- Agagingsaidnnss, and means for turning said- -screws, substantially as described.

" 25. Inragdisappearing-gun mount,'the cornon said side-brackets, gun-levers pivoted on said saddle, a ,gun pivoted near one end of said gun-levers and a counterpoise-weight pivoted near the other end of said gunslevers, com prisingk a hollow 'cylindrical casting containing. a weight, f, vertical .guide-ribs said cal guideway-greovesnear-,front ends of said yside brackets, recoil-cylinders engagingsaid comprising a hollow cylindrical casting con-` taining a weight, and vertical 'guide-ribs onv 23. In a disappearinggun mount, the comand hand-operated mechanism for elevatingv cross-piece with nuts secured to said arms,

said saddle, a gun' p'rvoted near one end of lrrr.:

bination with side brackets, a saddle pivoted' hollow cylindrical casting engaging in vertL saddle near the pivots of the levers, elevatingf In testimony whereof I affix my signature arms p'woted to the breech of the gun, a crossin presence of two Witnesses. piece with nuts secured to the lower nd of J said arms, s'xjqws journaled in the gun-car- I AUL BORGER' XVitnesses:

FREDERICK LAW, E. 1I. RoERTsoN.

5 riage and enggi-pg said znuts, and a. hand-operated worm-gearing for simulbaneouslytu r11- ing said screws, silbstautally as described. 

